Device for stretching wire and the like.



H. T. MiLLER.

DEVICE FOR STRETCHING WIRE AND THE LIKE.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

THE COLUMBIA PLANBGRAPH cu., WASHINGTON, n. c.

H. T. MILLER. DEVICE FOR STRETCHING WIRE AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-23, I914- Patented May 30, 1916;

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HENRY '1'. .MILVLER or non "spaincs, 'aaxansasf -DEVICE' FOR. smmcnmcW'I'RE Am') TI-IE'LIKE.

To all whom it may concern:

7 Be it known that I, HENRY ,T. MILLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hot Springs, in the county of Garland and State of Arkansas,have invented certain new and useful" Improvements in Devices forStretching Wire and the like; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and the lettersand figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification. I V

a My invention relates to certainnew and useful improvements in devicesfor stretch ing wire and the like, it being also useful in such otheranalogous arts as properly fall within its adaptation.

The qbjectof my invention is to provide I means for effecting acontinuous operation of the power or stretching member, said meansincluding ratchet wheels and a plurality of pawls designed to span andoperate the said ratchet wheels. I

Another object of my invention is the provision of means for operatingthe device, the said means being arranged within a frame, the contourand compactness of which will permit the ready use of the device instretching Wire up to,- and a distance beyond the last post in thefence.

A further object of my invention is the provision of an eflicient devicepossessing many advantages such as the ready manipulation of the devicein turning corners without an additional post, the taking up of theslack in a wire fence without careeningand displacing the posts, and thegeneral handling and operation of the device in a minimum amount of timeand with a small degree of labor. e

.Miy' invention further consists in the ar rangement and combinationofarts herein,- after' described and pointed out in the appended claims.-y, p

In the drawings: Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section of myimproved device as applied when stretching a wire fence in the orclinarymanner; Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, of my device show-Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of my improved device;r Fig. 4:-is a vertical sec- Specification of Letters Patent.

tional viewjthrough the same; Fig.5 is a plan vlew thereof, and Fig. 6is a viewillustrating the use of my device in hoisting or raising thecorner of a house or other struc- The frame employed is ofnovel'construction, consisting of the side bars 1 and 2, a

Patented May 30, 1916.

Application filed September 23, 1914. Serial N o.- 863,1 31 I cross rodor brace 3, and the strengthening and securing block 4. The block islocated at one end of the frame, and the cross rod or brace 3 isthereof. p v V I The side bars 1 and 2 are preferably ar' ranged inparallel relation to'each other and at one end of the frame they aretapered into points-5 and 6, whileat the other end there of they areuniformly shaped as at 7 V and 8. Suitable bearing surfaces 9 and 10 arealso providedon each side bar, and serve,

the purpose of properly alining and supporting the device when used forhoisting as shown in Fig. 6. I As shown in the my invention the crossrod 3 consists of a bolt 11, an encircling sleeve-12 and a nut 13,

the purpose of which is to secure increased strength and rigidity. Theblock 4 is held positioned at the other v end present embodiment of 1between the sidebarsfby bolts 14 and nuts 15 and by reason of'itspeculiar shape and construction serves a three-fold purpose, namely theforming of a strong frame; the providing'of a pivotalconnection for theoperating lever; and its use as the fastening end for the holding orsecuring chain. With regard to its forming a part of the frame, I

the integral rectangular formation thereof, is conducive togreaterstrength and effectiveness. The block is formed with the sides 16 andand the tubular or sleeve ends 18 and through which the bolts pass. Theend 19 is cutaway as at 20, for the reception of the operating lever.With regard to this saidlever it will be seen that it is firmlypositioned upon the block in this cutout portion and pivots upon one ofthe bolts which secure the block in'the frame. The

block is also provided with the fastening end 21 which isformedintegral-ly with the 7 block as shown. A ring 22 may be used inconnection with this end of the block in securing the chainthereto.

The ratchet wheels 23 and 2d are arranged within the frame upon theshaft 25. Between these ratchet wheels is positioned a chain linkengaging member 26. This member is provided with the usual projectionsfor engaging and holding the several links as the chain passes throughas will be readily understood. As shown I secure the ratchet wheels'andchain link engaging member by bolts 27 (see Fig. 4) but they may beformed as one, or in any other suitable and convenient way.

The lever 28 which is pivoted on one of the bolts passing through theblock t, carries two pawls 29 and 30. cated above the pivotal point ofthe lever and is of greater length than the pawl 30 which is locatedbeneath the pivotal connection of the lever. These pawls pivot on thelever at 31 and 32 respectively, and have enlarged engaging heads 33 and3 1 which span the distance between the ratchet wheels, and evenlyoperate the same. As shown these pawls are designed to engage the teethof the ratchet wheel because oftheir weight, as will be readilyunderstood. However, springs 29 and 30 may be employed to assist thepawls in contacting with the ratchet wheels in the usual way, as shownin Fig. 2.

In operating my device as shown in Fig. 1, I employ a chain 35, one endof which is secured to the clamping bars 36 which hold the wire mesh,and the other end of which passes around the chain engaging member 26. Ashort chain 37 is fastened to the link 22 and further secured to a post38. When in this position, the lever is now operated, and as it isoscillated back and forth a continuous pull will be given the chain 35by reason of the pawls 29 and 30 alternately engaging the ratchet wheelsand moving the ratchet wheels and chain engaging member in onedirection.

Referring to Fig. 2 my device is shown as applied for bringing the wireup to the post 38. When used in this manner the device is turned atright angles to the position shown in Fig. 1, and the point 5 and 6 ofthe side bars forced a short distance into the post. The short chain 37which is secured to the ring 22 is fastened to the post by a hook 39.The chain 35 is connected to the clamping bar as in the first instanceand passed around the chain engaging member located between the ratchetwheels. When in this position the device is capable of drawing the wireup to and beyond the post 38, the short chain 37 acting to steady thedevice when the lever is oscillated and the pull exerted upon the wire.This use of the device is highly ad- The pawl 29 is lo-' vantageous infastening the wire on the last post and in the turning of corners. Intaking the slack out of a fence, two clamping bars are used between theposts and the de vice suitably connected between the said bars andoperated, as will be readily understood.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings my device is shown as used for hoisting orlifting purposes. It is mounted upon the supports 40 and 41, the bearingsurfaces 9 and 10 properly alining the device as hereinbefore mentioned.The chain is then passed over the-chain engaging member and connected tothe block 42 put under the house or other structure which is to beraised.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that a practical, compact andefficient device is provided, capable of fulfilling the many uses towhich a device of this character is sub jected and requiring on the partof the person using the same very little time and a minimum amount oflabor.

I-Iaving described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claimis:

1. In a device of the class described the combination of a frame havingengaging means at one end thereof and a block at the other end thereofserving to secure means for connecting the frame to a post, ratchetwheels mounted in said frame, a chain engaging and holding memberlocated between said ratchet wheels, a plurality of pawls bridging thechain engaging and holding member and engaging the said ratchet wheels,and means including a lever mount ed in said frame and carrying thepawls, the said lever having its pivotal connection in the said blockconstituting part of the said frame, intermediate the pivotal'connectionof the said pawls for operating the said ratchet wheels in one directiononly.

2. In a device of the class described the combination of a framecomposed of parallel side members tapered at one end and braced apartfrom each other, aspacing block interposed between the other ends of themembers and formed with transversely extending tubular sleeves for thepassage of clamping bolts, one of said sleeves being cutaway, anoperating lever carrying pawls moimted in the cut-away portion of saidsleeve, and a chain engaging and holding member and ratchet wheelsmounted in the frame, the ratchet wheels being at opposite sides of thechain engaging and holding member and positioned in operative relationto the pawls of the lever.

In testimony whereof I affix my signatur in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY T. MILLER Witnesses:

JAMES E. HOGUE, LEO P. MCLAUGHLIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Eatents Washington, D. G.

